Supply of Fishing Inputs — Essential Fishery Requisite Subsidy Scheme
Andaman and Nicobar Islands state government scheme
Supply of Fishing Inputs; Essential Fishery Requisite is a UT Plan scheme of the Andaman and Nicobar Department of Fisheries. Non-tribal fishers get 50 per cent of the unit cost, capped at Rs 1,500 or Rs 3,000 per boat; tribal fishers get 75 per cent, capped at Rs 2,200 or Rs 4,300. Apply offline at a Fisheries Zonal Office.
What is the Supply of Fishing Inputs: Essential Fishery Requisite scheme?
Supply of Fishing Inputs; Essential Fishery Requisite is a Union Territory Plan scheme of the Department of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The scheme gives bona fide fishers of the islands a subsidy towards the essential consumable requisites a fishing boat needs to keep working through the season.
According to the Department of Fisheries, the scheme "aims to provide financial assistance to bona fide fishermen of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the procurement of essential fishery requisites". It is notified afresh each financial year with its own closing date. For 2026-27 the department invited applications on 8 June 2026 and closed the window on 30 June 2026.
This is the smallest of the department's three main fisher subsidies by rupee value, and the most widely used. Where the boat construction subsidy is a once-in-a-career capital grant and the motorization subsidy is a periodic engine purchase, the essential fishery requisite subsidy is a recurring, working-capital support that a fisher can realistically claim in successive years.
Key features
- UT Plan scheme of the Department of Fisheries, notified annually.
- Non-tribal category: 50 per cent of unit cost, ceiling Rs 1,500 per non-motorized boat and Rs 3,000 per motorized boat.
- Tribal category: 75 per cent of unit cost, ceiling Rs 2,200 per non-motorized boat and Rs 4,300 per motorized boat.
- Ceilings are fixed per fishing boat, not per household.
- Requires a registered craft and a fishing licence held for two consecutive years including the current year.
- Application is offline, at Fisheries Zonal Offices and Sub-Stations.
Who is eligible for the essential fishery requisite subsidy?
You can apply if:
- You are a bona fide fisherman, or a member of a tribe, residing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- You possess a registered non-motorized or motorized fishing craft.
- You hold a valid fishing licence for two consecutive years, including the current year.
You cannot apply, or are not eligible, if:
- You do not own a registered fishing craft. The subsidy is calculated per boat and there is no benefit without one.
- Your fishing licence is newly issued or does not cover two consecutive years including the current year. A fisher who took a licence only this season has to wait a year.
- You are not a resident of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- You file after the closing date in that year's notice, or file an incomplete application. The department asks for applications "complete in all respect".
Claiming the tribal category rate of 75 per cent requires proof of tribal status. Without it the application is assessed in the non-tribal category at 50 per cent and the lower ceilings apply.
How much money do you actually get?
| Category | Subsidy rate | Ceiling; non-motorized boat | Ceiling — motorized boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-tribal fishers | 50% of unit cost | Rs 1,500 | Rs 3,000 |
| Tribal fishers | 75% of unit cost | Rs 2,200 | Rs 4,300 |
Two rules interact here and both matter. The percentage limits the subsidy to half or three-quarters of the unit cost, and the ceiling caps the rupee amount whatever the invoice says. A non-tribal fisher with a motorized boat buying inputs worth Rs 8,000 does not get Rs 4,000, because the Rs 3,000 ceiling bites first. A tribal fisher with a non-motorized boat buying inputs worth Rs 2,000 gets Rs 1,500, because 75 per cent is below the Rs 2,200 ceiling.
What documents are required?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed application form | Yes | From a departmental office or the department website |
| Fishing craft registration certificate | Yes | Boat type decides which ceiling applies |
| Valid fishing licence | Yes | Two consecutive years including the current year |
| Bona fide fisherman proof | Yes | Departmental record or identity document |
| Scheduled Tribe certificate | No | Only to be assessed in the tribal category |
| Aadhaar card | Yes | Standard identity proof |
| Bank passbook | Yes | The subsidy is settled through this account |
How to apply for the fishing inputs subsidy
- Watch for the annual press release from the Department of Fisheries inviting applications under "Supply of Fishing Inputs, Essential Fishery Requisite". The 2026-27 notice was issued on 8 June 2026.
- Obtain the application form and the detailed terms and conditions from the Directorate of Fisheries, a Zonal Fisheries Office in North and Middle Andaman, South Andaman or Nicobar, or the nearest Fisheries Sub-Station. The prescribed form is also published on the department website at anifisheries.andamannicobar.gov.in.
- Confirm your craft registration and fishing licence are in order before you fill the form. The two-consecutive-year licence condition is the one that most often disqualifies an otherwise eligible fisher.
- Complete the form and attach the supporting documents: craft registration, licence, bona fide fisher proof, Aadhaar, bank passbook, and a tribal status certificate if you are claiming the 75 per cent rate.
- Submit the completed application in person at the nearest Fisheries Zonal Office or Fisheries Sub-Station on or before the closing date, and take an acknowledgement.
Key dates and the annual cycle
| Cycle | Notice date | Last date to submit |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 8 June 2026 | 30 June 2026 |
| 2024-25 | 2024 | 30 August 2024 |
The window is short and it moves. In 2026-27 the department allowed a little over three weeks. There is no rolling intake and no online submission, so a fisher who misses the notice waits a full financial year. Fishers in the Nicobar group and North and Middle Andaman, where a trip to a zonal office can take a day, should ask their nearest sub-station to flag the notification when it appears rather than relying on the local press.
How to check your application status
The Department of Fisheries does not run an online tracker for this scheme. Follow it up the same way you filed it:
- Take your acknowledgement to the Zonal Office or Sub-Station where the application was submitted.
- Ask whether the file has passed scrutiny and whether the craft record has been verified against the department's register.
- Escalate to the Directorate of Fisheries at Sri Vijaya Puram if the zonal office cannot give you a position.
Why applications get rejected, and how to avoid it
- Fishing licence short of two consecutive years, including the current year.
- Craft not registered, or the registration record does not match the applicant's name.
- Tribal rate claimed without proof of tribal status, which drops the claim to 50 per cent and the lower ceilings.
- Application filed after the closing date. The commonest failure, given how brief the window is.
- Incomplete application. The department's notices ask for applications complete in all respects and do not hold files open for later documents.
- Expecting the full invoice value. The per-boat ceiling limits the payout even where 50 or 75 per cent of the cost would be higher.
Where to get help
- Directorate of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).
- Zonal Fisheries Offices for North and Middle Andaman, South Andaman and Nicobar districts.
- Fisheries Sub-Stations nearest your landing centre, which issue and receive forms.
- Department of Fisheries website, anifisheries.andamannicobar.gov.in, where the prescribed application form is published.
There is no fee for the application form. Collect it from a departmental office or download it from the department site, and do not pay an agent to file on your behalf.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
How much subsidy is given under the essential fishery requisite scheme?
Non-tribal fishers receive 50 per cent of the unit cost with a ceiling of Rs 1,500 per non-motorized fishing boat and Rs 3,000 per motorized fishing boat. Tribal fishers receive 75 per cent of the unit cost with a ceiling of Rs 2,200 per non-motorized boat and Rs 4,300 per motorized boat.
What was the last date to apply in 2026-27?
30 June 2026 was the closing date for the 2026-27 cycle, announced by the Department of Fisheries on 8 June 2026. In the 2024-25 cycle the closing date was 30 August 2024, so the window moves each year and must be checked against the current notice.
Who is eligible for the fishing inputs subsidy?
Bona fide fishermen or members of a tribe residing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands who possess a registered non-motorized or motorized fishing craft and hold a valid fishing licence for two consecutive years including the current year.
Where do I get the application form?
From the Directorate of Fisheries, the Zonal Fisheries Offices in North and Middle Andaman, South Andaman and Nicobar districts, or the nearest Fisheries Sub-Station. The department has also published the prescribed form on its website at anifisheries.andamannicobar.gov.in.
Does the ceiling depend on the boat or on the person?
On the boat. The ceilings are set per fishing boat and are higher for a motorized craft than a non-motorized one, so a fisher who owns a motorized boat can claim up to Rs 3,000 in the non-tribal category or Rs 4,300 in the tribal category.
Is this the same as the boat subsidy scheme?
No. This scheme covers small essential fishing inputs with ceilings between Rs 1,500 and Rs 4,300, while the separate Subsidy for Construction/Purchase of Motorized/Mechanized Fishing Boats pays 50 or 75 per cent of the cost of a whole new boat. Both are UT Plan schemes of the same department.
Can I apply online?
No. The application is offline. The form can be downloaded from the department website, but the completed application must be submitted physically at the nearest Fisheries Zonal Office or Sub-Station.
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